The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-04
MOnteyideO.

We extract the following from a
South American letter in the Christian
at Work: I" The general appearance of
Montevideo is more pleasing than that
of Rio, and there are more indications
of commercial activity and prosperity.
The streets are wide, well paved and
clean. They have commodious side
walks. The buildings have less
crowded appearance, and they are kept
neatly painted. There are long rows
of docks, and facing them a whole
street of large substantial warehouses,
where freight is being constantly
handled. Before their doors are at all
times many of the peculiar carts of the
country drawn by three small mules,
one in shafts and another upon each
side. They have enormous wheels-ten
feet in diameter, | should say-with
very broad tires, which enable them to
go more easily over the soft and rough
country roads. The body is made of
long, narrow strips dashed to uprights
with raw-hide thongs, and looks like
wicker-work. They carry very heavy
loads-three tons frequently. 1t must
be hard work to load and unload them.
AT the warehouses may be seen what
are the principal imports and exports
of the country. Lumber and provisions
constitute the great bulk of the former.
The country produces no supplies eX-
cept meat, vegetables and fruits. All
other provisions and manufactured
goods are imported. The chief export
is wool. The bales are piled in great
tiers in the warehouses. and at the
docks lighters were loading it to carry
off to vessels. Hides, tallow and jerked
beef are also largely exported. The
latter is the principal product of the
saladeras or ghter-houses. 1t con-
sists of beef cut in long, thin strips,
and dried in the sun until it is as hard
and tough as raw-hide. 1t cannot be
eaten until softened by boiling. 1t is
sent to Brazil and Cuba, where it forms
the staple food of the slaves on the
plantations. AS in Rio, it is common
thing to commemorate historical events
in the names of the streets; not as we do
by calling them after some hero of the
event, or by the name of the event, as
Washington street, Liberty street, In
dependence square, ETC., but by naming
them with the dates of the events. The
22d of May and 25th of July are two of
the principal streets. This seems out of
place to us, because we are not accus-
toned to it, but cannot see why it is
not as instructive to youth and has not
as much tendency to incite their patriot
ism. The general appearance of the
streets is that usual in all Spanish and
Spanish-American cities. They are
bordered with continuous line of walls,
differing little in appearance whether
palatial mansion or stable is in the
rear of it. There are no frOnt-yards.
Each house has an open interior space
called patio, usually well filled with
flowers, lattice for vines, fruit-trees,
and perhaps a fountain. The apart
ments, stables, ETC., are on the sides OF
the patio, and open on to it. The best
rooms are in front, with a passage be-
tween. Windows open from them on
to the street, always guarded with iron
bars. There is but one outside door
Through the same passage must pass
the family and visitors, and all then
supplies, even hay for the horses, and
the horses also. The exchange, the
cathedral, the theater and some of the
banks are ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS struc-
lures, but most of the buildings make
little pretension to architectural beauty.
One sees frequently over door the
sign Tambo." My knowledge OF
Spanish gave me no clew to its mean.
ing, but the strong odors emanating
from one of the doors that was open
did. 1t is place where cows are kept
and MIXED in the presence of custom
ers to avoid suspicion of adulteration
Some have the added notice, " lecht
con cerueza " milk with beer), a popular
drink with the milk warm and fresh
from the COW. The city occupies com
handing promontory, which projects
little over mile into the river from
the north shore, its width being about
two-thirds its length. 1t has little SEN
sible elevation, but enough to give most
excellent drainage, which, with the
strength and direction of the prevail
ing winds, tends to make it al
unusually healthy city. The more
usual winds are southerly, and come
across the river from the Argentine
lance. The suburbs radiate from the
base of the promontory, and extend
with no visible separation for severa
miles along both shores and towards
the interim between. The population
in the district continuously built up il
about one hundred twenty thousand
about half that of the country. Street
cars extend out into all these suburbs
facilitating communication. l founC
great diversion in riding over the vari
Gus lines. The suburbs are more pleas
ing and varied than the city. Though
there is too much tendency to initiate
European cathedrals in their archi
lecture, the best residences are fount
there. Each has capacious grounds
about it and nestles in mass of foil
age and flowers. The combination il
called a Quinta. Montevideo is usually
the great summerresort for people whC